Lantern



C. METZ epfi. 24-, 1935.

LANTERN Original Filed Aug. 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept 24-, 1935. cMETZ 2,15,432

LANTERN Original Filed Aug. 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H, by Ms afiornay,v 5 g ww Patented Sept. 24, 1935 orFicE LANTERN Carl Metz, Philadelphia,Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Frederick Mclwen, Philadelphia,Pa.

' Application August 16, 1932, Serial No. 629,028

Renewed March 2, 1935 Claims.

This invention relates to lanterns and particularly to that classthereof designed for use in signaling on railways.

I have various objects in mind, to be carried 5 out by the improvementsin lanterns, constituting my invention. One of these objects is toprovide a lantern construction, which, while lending itself practicallyto sheet metal stamping operations, will aiford a more even draftthrough the lantern, in connection with supplying air to the burningwick and in the discharge of the air from the upper part of the lantern,regardless of the force of air blown against the outside of the lantern.In this connection, a further object is to provide forms of bafiieconstruction for the air inlet and outlet parts, of the lantern, whichwill prevent direct incoming or through drafts, which interfere with thenatural circulation of air within a lighted lantern. I

A further object is to take advantage of the heat in the oil font, whichaccumulates during the burning of the wick, and to provide aconstruction of Walls and the positioning of air passages therethrough,which will cause the incoming air to remain longer in the vicinity ofthe heated font, as it is passing through the walled passages, givingthe aira better chance to get warmer from these walls. My object in thusincreasing the temperature of the air in the lower part of the lantern,is' to create a greater difierence in air temperature between the lowerand upper areas within the globe and the hood of the lantern, which willresult in a better and more controlled flow of air through the lantern,effecting a more even draft.

Another object is to provide a removable globe holder at the top of thelantern, which can be quickly sprung into place and locked there in achangeable position, for self-adjustment,-as it is seated upon theglobe, when the lantern lid is snapped down into place.

A further object is to provide with the globe holder, a form ofcylindrical windshield, which will give an upward direction to coolingand'incoming air, to pass in and out of the lantern top, to reduce thetemperature thereof, to make a greater difference in temperature betweenthe bottom and the top of the lantern, thus further amplifying thisdiiference of temperature, which is increased below as has been stated,and thus decreased above, affording a still more improved and controlleddraft through the lantern.

Another object is to providea form of globe holder adapted to slidinglyfit within the hood of the lantern, having at the usual upper opening,

a winged baflle piece, fixed to the globe holder and extending acrosssaid opening. This bafiie piece, I desire to have formed with box-shapedends, extending to the outer top edge of the globe holder and Whileforming an anchorage for the 5 usual compression spring above, will alsobe adapted to co-ordinate with studs fixed to and extending Within thehood of the lantern, having these studs positioned diametricallyopposite one another, afiording, with the box-shaped ends of the 10baffle piece, a kind of bayonet locking arrangement, at the same timepermitting a freedom of action to the compression spring inautomatically adjusting the globe holder in seating relation to theglobe. Further, I desire to aiiord with such 15 bayonet lockingarrangement, a construction permitting of a quick and easy release ofthe globe holder, for cleaning purposes, as well as affording a quickand easy replacement of the globe holder, with the hood, prior tosnapping the lantern hood 2 down, with the globe in place;

With these and other objects, which will hereinaiter appear, myinvention resides in certain construction, one embodiment of which isillustrated in the drawings, and is hereinafter de- 25 scribed. The useand operation of the construction is explained and what I claim is setforth.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a lantern embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the globe holder.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4, of 35 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5, of Figure 3.

In the figures, the lantern ill is shown to have a cage H, with uprightribs l2, which are sur- 40 mounted by a top ring I3, to which is hingedand releasably looked, a lantern top it, having a hood I5 and a skirtl6. Fixed to oppositely disposed ribs l2, arethe bail ears H, to whichis loosely attached the bail l8. Engaging all the ribs I2 45 is thebottom ring 19, the guard ring 20 and the angle ring 2|, which has ahorizontal flange 22, to which are fixed the ribs I2. 23 is the verticalleg of the angle ring 2|, forming a band fixed between the shoulder 24and the outstanding bead 25, of the outer cylindrical wall 25, of thelower portion 2?, of the lantern l9. Below the shoulder 24, is theoutstanding bead 28, above which is a series of holes 29, passingthrough the wall 26. Below the bead 28, is the skirt portion 30, of thewall 26. An inverted closure cap 3|, forms the bottom of the lanternportion 21, and has a rim portion 32, fitting tightly about the skirtportion 38, of the wall 25. The cap 3| has a flat wall portion 33, acylindrical wall portion 34, and a floor portion 35. The top edge of thewall 25, is turned outward and is engaged by the rim portion 36, of theglobe seat member 3;, having a globe seat 38, below the rim portion 35,upon which rests the glass globe 39. Depending from the inner edge ofthe seat 38, is the cylindrical wall portion 40, of the member 3?. Thelower edge 4 of the wall portion 49, is turned in to be about the samediameter as that of the wall portion 34. Just below the globe seat 39,the wall portion 49 has a series of holes 52, there through. Below theseholes 42, is the rim 43, of the oil font 44, of the lamp. This oil font44 has a closure 45, a bottom 46, and a side wall 4?, which fits withinthe edge 4| and rests slidingly within the wall portion 34, of the cap3|, and upon the floor portion 35. 48 is the wick of the lamp, and 49 isthe wick wheel, with a stem 58, passing through the slot 5|, in the wall25, to come below the globe seat 38.

Between the wall 26 and the font wall 41, is the flanged, cylindricalwall 52, which rests upon the flat wall portion 33 and engages the upperbead 25. This wall 52 is positioned midway between the wall 25 and thefont wall 41, and has a series of holes 53, passing through its lowerportion.

Considering the formation of the globe holder 54, which slidinglyengages the inside of the hood |5, the outer wall 55 has a skirt portion56, merging into a conical portion M, which merges into an upper portion58, having an inclined inner flanged portion 59, surrounding the opening60, in the top of the globe holder 54.

Reaching across the opening 59, is the winged baflle piece 6|, havingdivergently inclined wings 62, depending from the bar portions 63,between which is the longitudinal open space 64. The wings 62 are belowthe flange 59. The box-shaped ends 65, of the baflie piece 6|, eachbeing shaped having opposite triangular sides 66 and 57, integral with atop 68, are open below where the sides 66 and 51 come in contact withthe flange 59. Each wall 55 and 67 is notched below at 69 and I0,respectively, to be engaged by the bottom coil, of the spring I and eachwall 61 is cut away enough at 12, to permit a stud l3, fixed in the wallof the hood, to project within a box-shaped end 65. The baflie piece 6|is securely locked on top of the flange 59 by means of the tongues 14,which are bent up under the flange 59, at each end. The lower edge 15,of the wall 58 is flared out a little and is engaged by the lower partof the cylindrical windshield portion 16, toform the rim ll, of theglobe holder 54. Above the rim ll, is a series of holes 78, passingthrough the wall 56. The windshield portion 16 has a globe seat 19,resting upon the globe 39. Merging into the inner edge of the seat 79,is the cylindrical baffle portion 80, terminating above in an inturnededge 8|, annularly spaced from the conical portion 5! of the globeholder 54. The hood l5, has an outstanding bead 82, above which is thegroup of holes 83 passing through the sides of the hood I5. The top 84of the hood I5 is made convex, and has the top coils of the springbearing up against it, inside.

In use, considering the paths of the air currents into and through thelantern, when the same is lit, with the wick burning, air enters theholes 29,

in the outer wall 26, of the lower portion 21 of the lantern l0, andthen descends toward the flat portion 33 and enters the holes 53 in theintermediate wall 52. Next it ascends between this wall 52 and the wall47, of the oil font, and passes 5 up through the holes 42, where itenters within the globe 39. During the movement of the air between theouter wall 26 and the font wall 4's,

it becomes heated from these walls in lower portion if, of the lanternl9, and at the same time, 10 the wall 52 serves as a bafile to any airforcibly blown through the holes 29. At the same time, the limitedpassage to the air, afforded by the holes 53, acts to hold the airbetween the baffle wall 52 and the wall 26, until it has time to passthrough the holes 53, thus checking any sudden draft before the airreaches the holes 42, and enters within the globe 39.

At the top of the lantern iii, the heated air passes through the globeholder 54, and out at the opening 55, therein, entering the hood l5,and. passing out through the holes 83. As the air passes through theglobe holder opening 60, it passes also by bafiie piece 5|, and throughits-- long opening 54. The bafile wings 52 and the conical flange 55,serve to check any sudden down currents of air, blown in through theholes 83. Additional up-flowing air currents within the globe holder 55,are afforded by the constructionincluding the baffle wall 85 and theannular space between the wall edge 8| and the conical portion 51, ofthe wall 55, in a manner, to increase the velocity of the air passing bythe edge 8|, after it enters the space between the walls 55 and 89,coming in through the holes 78. The space surrounding the wall edge 8|,forms a sort of Venturi throat to increase the velocity of the upwardlymoving air and improves the draft up through the upper part of the globeholder 5 Air enter- I ing the holes 18, if forcibly blown in, tends to40 accelerate the velocity of the air through the Venturi throat andtherefore increases the resistance of the air currents, so increased,against any down draft tendency. Then there is a cooling effect affordedby fresh cool air coming into the holes '58 and passing up through theparts as just explained. This cooling effect is beneficial, inasmuch asit makes for a greater difference of temperature between the air within,and at the bottom of the globe 39, and the air at the top. By increasingthe temperature at the lower part of the globe 39, and decreasing thetemperature at the upper part, I have improved the natural draft throughthe lantern and made it more steady and even, while at the same time, Ihave checked adverse drafts by means of the baffle walls 52, below, and85 above as against strong air currents by wind or otherwise, blowingpast the lantern. It will be observed, that with this better control ofthe natural air draft through the lantern, I have improved the lanternfor signal purposes, permitting of swinging the lantern through the airwithout disturbing its natural internal drafts. Y

Referring again to the globe holder 54, but this time to the facilitiesafforded for easily positioning and releasing the same, in relation tothe hood l5, as well as for securely locking the globe holder in place,when about to assemble the globe holder 54, with the hood' l5, afterhaving cleaned the same and the hood l5, let us assume that the lanternlid I4 is open. We begin by entering the spring 1| into the hood I5, andslip the wall portion 58, into engagement with the inside of the wall ofthe hood I5, having the box-shaped ends 65, of the bafile piece 6|, outof line with the studs 13. Then upon forcing the holder 54 further in,until the outer part, of the flange 59, strikes the studs 13, the holderis held in this position and turned until the openings 12, have passedthe studs l3, and the side walls 66, strike the studs l3. Then, with thespring ll being compressed, upon releasing the hold upon the globeholder 56, the spring will force the same outward, and bring the topwalls 68, of the box ends 65, up against the studs 13, holding thislocking engagement with the studs 13, on account of the same beingbetween the side walls 66 and 6'5, of the box ends 65. Next, when I shutthe lid I4 down, having the globe in place, and having engaged the globetop, to come against the seat 19 and within the flange Tl, there will bean upmovement between the wall of the hood I5 and the holder 54, as thelid i4 is snapped in place, so that the tops 68, of the ends 65, willbecome spaced from the studs l3, leaving the studs relatively, aboutmidway between the tops 68, and the flange 59, so as to engage either ofthe side walls 66 or 61, to stop any turning of the globe holder 5within the hood I5, after the lid M has been snapped down, in place uponthe ring It. The steps in the operation of assembly and locking of theholder 54 within the hood l5, are taken in the reverse order forremoving the holder 54, from the hood l5, for cleaning or any otherpurpose.

While I have shown and described but one em bodiment of my invention,changes in the forms of construction can be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of this invention. I wish therefore, to include allforms which come within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lantern, having a lamp font, said lantern including in combination,a lamp font receptacle, comprising an outer cylindrical wall, aninverted cap closing the bottom of said wall, a globe seating member,attached to the upper part of said wall, and extending down as areceptacle wall within the same to fit around said lamp font, a skirtportion to said cylindrical wall spaced from the said receptacle wall, abottom portion to said cap, a cylindrical bafiie wall between said outercylindrical wall and said font, separating the space therebetween intotwo cylindrical spaces, concentric with said font, one space being onthe inside and the other on the outside of said b aille wall, saidbaflle wall being in contact above, with said outer cylindrical wall,and being in contact below with a portion of said cap, there being airopenings in said outer cylindrical wall, in said bafile wall, and insaid globe seating member, the openings in said baffle wall beingpositioned in its lower portion, the openings in said outer cylindricalwall being above the openings in said baffle wall, and the openings insaid skirt portion, of said globe seating member, being in the upperpart of said skirt portion, above said font, resting within saidreceptacle.

2. A lantern, including a globe, a spring and a top, having a perforatedhood, said lantern having in combination, a globe holder, comprising anouter cylindrical wall, a skirt portion to said wall, a hood fittingportion to said wall, a conical portion to said wall, joining said hoodfitting portion and said skirt portion, an inturned flange at the top ofsaid hood fitting portion, said flange being fixed to said spring and acylindrical bafiie wall,

spaced from said skirt portion, and joined below 10 to said skirtportion, the upper edge of said bafiie 1 wall being spaced within saidconical portion and forming therewith an annular Venturi throat, therebeing air inlets in said skirt portion, and

releasable locking means for securing said globe ilfi holder to saidhood.

3. In a lantern, a globe holder having in combination therewith an outerwall having a lower and an upper portion of less diameter than the lowerportion, an inclined portion forming a con- 2 ical section to said outerwall, joining the said upper and lower portions, said lower portionhaving openings therein, an inner upright wall connecting at its lowerportion with the lower part of said outer wall, and extending upwardwithin said 2 outer wall and spaced therefrom, the upper part crdinatingwith said spring connected with said baiile piece and said hood, saidbaflle piece comprising, spaced bar members, extending across saidopening, end portions to said piece, extending over said inturnedflange, baffle wings depending from said bar members, securing lips onsaid baffle piece, positioned at the ends-of the space between said barmembers, and binding said bafile piece to said inturned flange.

5. A lantern, including a globe, a compression spring and a perforatedhood, said lantern having in combination, a globe holder with an upperin turned flange with an opening in said flange, said spring beingattached to said globe holder, a baffle piece extending across saidopening and fixed to said globe holder, and a locking meansco-orclinating with said spring connected with 55

